Pork chops are the perfect canvass for a wide range of food accompaniments.
Applesauce?
Dijon?
Onions and pears?
Sliced mushrooms?
Gingered apple compote?
These all pair perfectly with “that other white meat.” So what wine also goes well with all these options, and the chops? Look no further than Chardonnay.
Recognizing that there are several different styles of Chardonnay, here are some guidelines. The sweeter the sauce, the sweeter the wine needs to be. With an apple sauce, choose a wine that’s lightly oaked. If you have a ton of spice with the chops, lay low on the oak.
With Ann Vogel’s “Stuffed Iowa Chops” and their apple glaze and apple stuffing, we recommend Chateau Ste. Michelle’s 2009 Chardonnay. Head winemaker Bob Bertheau describes the wine as food-friendly, with bright sweet citrus fruit character, subtle spice and oak nuances.
Sounds like a perfect match for the apple-stuffed chops.
Now for the perfect wine for the Baked Potato Soup (see above link for the recipe).
We believe potatoes are the perfect vegetable (says the woman of Irish decent and her blond partner in crime who never met a carb she didn’t like).
But seriously, potatoes are the perfect vegetable because the can be paired with just about any wine. For this recipe, Chardonnay would work because of the butter, onions and cream. If you were planning to serve Vogel’s pork chops and the soup together, stick with the previously mentioned Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay.
If you’re looking for a different white, Sauvignon Blanc is another smart choice because it goes well with cream dishes, celery and parsley.
If red wine’s more your style, the recipe’s bacon and cream are two components that match up nicely with a Cabernet Sauvignon.
Irishman David O’Reilly of Owen Roe Winery, based out of St. Paul, Ore., has a great red blend that would match everything in the cream soup. His 2009 Abbot’s Table (from Washington vineyards) is a blend of Zinfandel, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Grenache. There’s also small amounts of Blaufrankish, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Merlot.
Owen Roe is going to be more expensive than the Chateau Ste. Michelle Chard, but it’s worth it.
